1997 Northern Arizona Lumberjacks football team

1997 Northern Arizona Lumberjacks football
ConferenceBig Sky Conference
Record6–5 (4–4 Big Sky)
Head coach
Home stadiumJ. Lawrence Walkup Skydome
Seasons
← 1996
1998 →
1997 Big Sky Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 6 E Washington $^   7 – 1     12 – 2  
No. 11 Montana ^   6 – 2     8 – 4  
Montana State   5 – 3     6 – 5  
Northern Arizona   4 – 4     6 – 5  
Weber State   4 – 4     6 – 5  
Cal State Northridge   4 – 4     4 – 8  
Portland State   3 – 5     4 – 7  
Idaho State   2 – 6     3 – 8  
Sacramento State   1 – 7     1 – 10  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant
  • Cal State Northridge record includes two losses by forfeit
Rankings from The Sports Network poll

The 1997 Northern Arizona Lumberjacks football team was an American football team that represented Northern Arizona University (NAU) as a member of the Big Sky Conference (Big Sky) during the 1997 NCAA Division I-AA football season. In their eighth and final year under head coach Steve Axman, the Lumberjacks compiled a 6–5 record (4–4 against conference opponents), outscored opponents by a total of 302 to 261, and tied for fourth place in the Big Sky.[1]

The team played its home games at the J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome, commonly known as the Walkup Skydome, in Flagstaff, Arizona.

The team's statistical leaders include Kino Carson with 1,099 rushing yards (including 200 yards vs. Cal State Northridge), Travis Brown with 3,395 passing yards, and Ricky Pearsall with 1,802 receiving yards.[2]

After the season, NAU offered coach Axman a three-year contract at $82,000 per year. He rejected the deal and accepted a position as Minnesota's quarterbacks coach.[3]

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
August 30at New Mexico*
L 10–3325,643[4][5]
September 6St. Cloud State*
  • Walkup Skydome
  • Flagstaff, AZ
W 33–109,761[6][7]
September 20Minnesota-Duluth*
  • Walkup Skydome
  • Flagstaff, AZ
W 40–67,013[8][9]
September 27Portland Statedagger
  • Walkup Skydome
  • Flagstaff, AZ
W 56–2113,055[10][11]
October 4at Weber State
L 23–3610,261[12][13]
October 11Montana State
  • Walkup Skydome
  • Flagstaff, AZ
W 14–139,247[14][15]
October 18at Sacramento State
W 48–253,020[16][17]
October 25Montana
  • Walkup Skydome
  • Flagstaff, AZ
W 27–2415,417[18][19]
November 1at Idaho StatePocatello, IDL 24–414,722[20]
November 8Eastern Washington
  • Walkup Skydome
  • Flagstaff, AZ
L 14–3112,093
November 22at Cal State Northridge
L 13–214,329[21]
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming

References

  1. ^ "2013 Northern Arizona Football Media Guide" (PDF). Northern Arizona University. 2013. p. 79. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  2. ^ 2013 Media Guide, pp. 31 and 56.
  3. ^ "Axman takes QB post at Minnesota". Arizona Daily Sun. March 25, 1998. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Easier Said Than Done: Lobos Begin Season With Victory Over Lumberjacks". Albuquerue Journal. August 31, 1997. pp. E1, E12 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Jason Stone (August 31, 1997). "4th quarter barrage too much for Jacks". Arizona Daily Sun. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Doug Cook (September 7, 1997). "NAU does it the hare way: Despite sluggish start, Jacks beat St. Cloud, 33–10, in home opener". Arizona Daily Sun. pp. 21, 24 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Huskies see lead slip away". St. Cloud Times. September 7, 1997. pp. 1C, 4C – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "NAU's offense leads way". The Arizona Republic. September 21, 1997. p. F5 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Chris Lang (September 21, 1997). "Jacks put hurt on Duluth, 40–6". Arizona Daily Sun. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Chris Lang (September 28, 1997). "NAU stages happy Homecoming: Jacks demolish Portland State in Big Sky opener". Arizona Daily Sun. pp. 21, 26 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "PSU gives up 561 yards at N. Arizona". Statesman Journal. Associated Press. September 28, 1997. p. 5B – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Jason Stone (October 5, 1997). "Cats go wild: NAU upset by bitter rival Weber". Arizona Daily Sun. pp. 15, 16 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Andrew Aragon (October 6, 1997). "Cats jack nationally ranked NAU". The Signpost. Ogden, Utah. pp. 12, 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ Jason Stone (October 12, 1997). "NAU's defense rises to occasion: 'Much-maligned' unit key to 14–13 Jacks win". Arizona Daily Sun. pp. 21, 24 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "NAU edges Bobcats". The Montana Standard. Associated Press. October 12, 1997. p. B4 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ Jason Stone (October 19, 1997). "Jacks avoid Hornets' sting: But NAU may have lost St. Paul to injury". Arizona Daily Sun. pp. 21, 24 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ Jim Van Vliet (October 19, 1997). "Another Big Sky lesson: Sac State loses 48–25". The Sacramento Bee. p. C9 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ Jason Stone (October 26, 1997). "Jacks exorcise 10-year ghost: After win over Griz, NAU controls own Big Sky destiny". Arizona Daily Sun. pp. 21, 22 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ Kim Briggeman (October 26, 1997). "Jacks chop another notch out of swaying Griz". The Missoulian. pp. C1, C8 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ Dave Ward (November 2, 1997). "NAU embarrassed by last-place team". The Arizona Republic. p. F7 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ Fernando Dominguez (November 23, 1997). "Matadors Go Out With a Stop". The Los Angeles Times (Valley ed.). Los Angeles, California. p. C15. Retrieved June 16, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon